Mobile betting began simply: people could place basic wagers on betting websites using their smartphones’ browsers. Before long, people started developing smartphone betting applications. The 2000s led to a betting app revolution. By 2023, the cellphone betting industry had reached $100 billion in value.
The industry introduced geolocation capabilities, opening up betting to people on the go. People began using their phones to place and alter their bets in real time at their convenience. The industry has, over the past ten years, integrated a variety of automations into its applications, giving users a high degree of betting customization. And transformed betting from a simple, one-time event to a preplanned, quarterly event. Daily and in some cases, ten times daily, routine.
The Shift to Mobile Platforms
Mobile betting applications such as MelBet pioneered realtime betting capabilities. At first, overlays were used to display promotional content in real time to keep users on the betting application longer. As the overlays were programmed to release bets in real time, the promotional content was replaced with live messaging and betting. The more the user interacted with the application, the longer the realtime promotional content was displayed, keeping the user on the application.
In many emerging and preserved betting markets, sponsored betting has been outlawed. In 2024, Mongolia and many other emerging markets banned sponsored betting and online gambling to eliminate the predatory nature of realtime betting. To keep the application profitable, MelBet app integrated it with software to conduct Pick’Em games and similar sponsored events, such as Dota 2. To maintain user engagement, MelBet integrated a trophy system to incentivise accurate predictions in pre-recorded events.
Enhancements to mobile applications focused on data usage and conservation for users in low-connectivity areas. Offline access to statistical data and review features became widespread, enabling functionality in Mongolia’s ultra-remote areas with erratic internet. App localization and multi-language support further increased the reach of diverse markets.
Key Features Enhancing User Experience
Apps nowadays continue to improve their features due to the ease of access and user-friendly technology. One of the top features to strengthen is the app’s ease of access and user-friendly controls. Apps should have controls that require minimal loading and complete the action in under 2 seconds to offer the needed smooth performance. Even older technology should be able to run the app. Security measures should be implemented to protect data amid the rise in cyberattacks.
Analytics tools help users make informed decisions by providing access to essential datasets, including historical data regarding team performance in esports competitions. For example, during a community event across several platforms, users can access and share their predictions and track data points to help inform games such as Counter-Strike 2.
Some of the most essential features are that they are:
- There are no entry barriers, no initial deposits are required, and predictions are entirely free.
- There is the ability to use the app on the go.
- There is the ability to set user-specified tournament reminders.
- There is the ability to sync with other devices, such as a calendar for event reminders.
Apps are being standardized and grouped. The amount of gamification- turning activities users accomplish into games with points and wins- across the digital ecosystem is being admired. These apps offer people the option to earn points and “win” in their activities.
Regional Adaptations in Mongolia
Mobile applications in Mongolia have adjusted to the needs of the tech-savvy population in urban centers such as Ulaanbaatar and to the peculiarities of the country’s rural areas, where network coverage is limited. Following the imposition of a parliamentary ban on betting activities in August 2024, focus shifted to prediction-based betting activities with no cash bets accepted. This environment, when paired with the educational free-to-play models, caused a shift in the market aimed at offering educational models with bets, no cash trades accepted, and pivoted the models around complex, detailed events.
The apps added features to support the Mongolian language and utilized non-gambling local transactional payment processors for reward purchases. Younger demographics of Valorant and League of Legends players increased participation in esports prediction activities around regional tournaments. Post 2023, the data indicates that around 25 percent of the increased downloads were used in the region, driven by the interfaces and the low data usage of the applications.
Comparison of Traditional Desktop Betting and Modern Mobile Prediction Apps
| Aspect | Traditional Desktop Betting | Modern Mobile Prediction Apps |
| Accessibility | is limited to fixed locations with high-speed internet. | It is Available anytime via smartphones, even with weak signals |
| Features | Basic wagering and results viewing, | Live updates, analytics, and reward-based predictions |
| Regulatory Compliance | Often restricted in banned regions. | Focus on free engagements to align with laws like Mongolia’s 2024 ban |
| User Engagement | Static interfaces with minimal interaction, | Social sharing, and gamified elements for sustained interest |
| Data Usage | High due to constant connectivity requirements. | Optimized for low consumption, under 100 MB per session |
This comparison highlights how mobile solutions address limitations of older systems, particularly in constrained environments.
What You Can Do to Stay Ahead
In-app streaming of esports matches will soon be available due to advancements in 5G technology. Artificial intelligence-based prediction algorithms will use individual user data to provide personalized recommendations. According to the data, more than 80% of the related activities will be mobile in 2025. In 2022, it was roughly 70%.
Virtual simulations of tournaments, combined with hybrid VR models for practice and prediction, are likely to be developed. In Mongolia, esports apps are expected to grow in viewership, which has increased by 15% annually, to include niche tournaments like local Arena of Valor contests. Energy-efficient coding will be incorporated for global sustainability.
A growing focus on refining platforms for an unparalleled user experience without gambling will likely amplify users’ digital experience, with platforms built for seamless inclusion.
